fifa world cup 1934

fifa world cup poster 1934 Like the Berlin Olympics that would follow two years later, the 1934 World Cup in Italy was a highly politicised event intended to showcase fascism abroad and secure support for the regime at home. A qualifying competition was organised to reduce the original 32 entrants to 16 but there were some notable absentees. The reigning champions, Uruguay, did not enter in retaliation for the refusal of European teams to travel to the inaugural tournament four years earlier while the UK associations continued their splendid isolation. Chile and Peru withdrew so Argentina and Brazil qualified without playing a match. Italy were required to qualify even though they were hosts and we can only imagine what would have happened had they lost their preliminary match against Greece.

Twelve places were reserved for European teams, three for the Americas and one for Africa/Asia. Mexico and the United States met in Rome three days before the start of the competition for a play-off to decide the last remaining place.

The tournament was organised as a straight forward knock-out competition: hard luck if you travelled half way round the world and were knocked out in your first match. Extra time would be played if the scores were level after 90 minutes and if the match was still drawn a replay held the following day.

I am grateful to Glen Isherwood for sharing his research. A detailed history of the 1934 World Cup qualifying competition and finals and is available on Soccer Nostalgia.

Please contact me with corrections or additions.

1930 | World Cup Index | 1938

First Round

Spain

Brazil

Spain 3 Brazil 1

Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa (21,000)
27 May 1934

After a 13 day voyage, Brazil arrived in Italy on the Friday and were in action the following Sunday. Several of their key players had refused to make the trip so they faced Spain with a weakened side. Spain were 3-0 up at half-time but Leônidas da Silva pulled one back for Brazil ten minutes into the second half. The referee later disallowed a Brazilian goal and ignored penalty appeals after a Spanish player handled the ball on his goal-line.

(Toni Lombarte, Victor Manuel Rey)

Hungary

Egypt

Hungary 4 Egypt 2

Stadio Georgio Ascarelli, Naples (c12,000)
27 May 1934

Egypt became the first African team to play in the World Cup finals and came from behind to level the scores at 2-2 by half time. In the second half the experienced Hungarian team scored twice to win the game.

The colour of the Egyptian shirt has been confirmed from contemporary newspaper reports..

(Andre Silva, Gergely Marosi)

Switzerland

Netherlands

Switzerland 3 Netherlands 2

Stadio San Siro, Milan (c40,000)
27 May 1934

Smit equalised for the Dutch in the 20th minute after Switzerland took an early lead. The Swiss drew ahead with goals in the 43rd and 69th minute. The Netherlands scored again with six minutes left.

(Andre Silva, Shahan Petrossian)

Italy

United States

Italy 7 United States 1

Stadio Nazionale PNF, Rome (c13,000)
27 May 1934

A hat-trick from Schiavio, two from Orsi and one each from Ferrari and Meazza gave Italy the perfect start. Donelly scored a consolation goal for the Americans in the 67th minute.

(Claudio Betta)

Czechoslovakia

Romania

Czechoslovakia 2 Romania 1

Stadio Littorio, Trieste (c8,000)
27 May 1934

Czechoslovakia trailed at half-time but recovered in the second half.

(Ivano Bardini, Greger Lindberg, Andre Silva)

Sweden

Argentina

Sweden 3 Argentina 2

Stadio Littoriale, Bologna (c15,000)
27 May 1934

Arguments at home meant that none of Argentina's 1930 squad made the trip to Europe. They led twice but on each occasion Jonasson put the Swedes back in the game. Kroon scored the late winner.

Although photographs suggest Sweden wore dark shirts and pale shorts, this has been confirmed to be a false impression generated by the photographic processes of the period.

(Andreas Nilsson - Swedish FA, Greger Lindberg, Andre Silva)

Austria

France

Austria 3 France 2 (after extra-time)

Stadio Benito Mussolini, Turin (c20,000)
27 May 1934

The Austrian Wunderteam were among the favourites to win the title but they had their hands full in this opening match. France took the lead after 18 minutes but Sindelar equalised for Austria just before half-time. It stood at 1-1 after 90 minutes and then Schall and Bican scored in the first period of extra time to put Austria ahead. Verriest scored with a penalty for France four minutes before the end but Austria held on to their lead.

(Kevin Grandjean)

Germany

Belgium

Germany 5 Belgium 2

Stadio Giovanni Berta, Florence (c8,000)
27 May 1934

Kobierski put Germany ahead in the 25th minute but Voorhoof equalised four minutes later and on the stroke of half-time, he put Belgium into the lead. A second half hat-trick by Conen spared Germany from further embarrassment.

Quarter-Finals

Austria

Hungary

Austria 2 Hungary 1

Stadio Littoriale, Bologna (c25,000)
31 May 1934

Goals in each half put Austria ahead but they were pegged back by Sarosi, who scored for Hungary with a penalty on the hour. Hungary's chances effectively ended when Imre Markos was sent off ten minutes before time.

(Andre Silva)

Italy

Spain

Italy 1 Spain 1 (after extra-time)

Stadioi Giovanni Berta, Florence (c35,000)
31 May 1934

Italy came back to equalise on the stroke of half-time. There was no further score so for the first time in World Cup history, a replay was required. A series of controversial decisions gave weight to the widely held view that Mussolini (who chose the match officials) had suborned the referee.

Note that the Spanish team's socks feature the colours of the short-lived Spanish Republic, which would eventually fall in the Civil War that broke out in 1936.

(Claudio Betta, Toni Lombarte, Victor Manuel Rey)

Germany

Sweden

Germany 2 Sweden 1

Stadio San Siro, Milan
31 May 1934

Two goals from Hohmann gave Germany the advantage. Dunker pulled one back for Sweden with eight minutes to go.

Czechoslovakia

Switzerland

Czechoslovakia 3 Switzerland 2

Stadio Benito Mussolini, Turin (c12,000)
31 May 1934

This game swung first one way then the other: Switzerland scored first then Svoboda equalised and in the second half, Sobotka put Czechoslovakia in front. Jaggi made it 2-2 in the 78th minute but four minutes later, Nejedly scored the decisive goal.

(Andre Silva)

Replay

Italy

Spain

Italy 1 Spain 0

Stadio Giovanni Berta, Florence (c45,000)
1 June 1934

Meazza was Italy's hero with a goal in the 11th minute. Italy held on to their advantage to qualify for the semi-finals.

(Claudio Betta, Toni Lombarte)

Semi-Finals

Italy

Austria

Italy 1 Austria 0

Stadio San Siro, Milan (c60,000)
3 June 1934

The Italians faced a stiff challenge against the talented Austrian side. The match was played in poor weather conditions that limited Austria's ability to play their short-passing game. The decisive goal came when Guaita bundled the Austrian goalkeeper over the line. The match was refereed by the Swede, Ivan Eklind who was accused of favouring the Italians. Despite this, or probably because of it, Eklind would also referee the final.

(Claudio Betta)

Czechoslovakia

Germany

Czechoslovakia 3 Germany 1

Stadio Nazionale PNF, Rome (c10,000)
3 June 1934

The Czechoslovak team spoiled any chance of a showpiece final between the two leading fascist powers. Nejedly put them into the lead in the 21st minute and although Noack leveled the score in the second half, he went on to score a hat-trick.

Third Place Match

Germany

Austria

Germany 3 Austria 2

Stadio Giorgio Ascarelli, Naples (c8,000)
7 June 1934

Germany were 2-0 up after 29 minutes but Horvath pulled one back for Austria immediately. Lehner made it 3-1 with his second goal just before half-time. Sesta scored Austria's second ten minutes into the second-half. The Austrians borrowed a set of light blue tops belonging to SC Napoli for the match.

(Ivano Bardini, Andre Silva)

Final

Italy

Czechoslovakia

Italy 2 Czechoslovakia 1 (after extra-time)

Stadio Nazionale PNF, Rome (c45,000)
10 June 1934

With no score and twenty minutes left, tension was mounting when Antonín Puč gave Czechoslovakia the lead. Raimundo Orsi rescued Italy with nine minutes to go and in the fifth minute of extra-time, Angelo Schiavio scored the winner.

The Swedish referee, Ivan Eklind, was seen speaking to Mussolini before the match and the Czech players later complained that he was far from impartial during the game. He was suspended for life afterwards but later reinstated.

(Claudio Betta)